clay carmichael

"Wild Things, Clay Carmichael's first YA book, is a joy."

"Every single one of you should read this book. Really, young or old, I want you to read this and then tell me how far in love with the characters you fell. I was enchanted with the story, loving the characters, and so sad when it ended...yet happy. A beautifully written book, screaming out for readers."

—A Patchwork of Books

"Page by page, and this is a real page-turner, I fell hard for Wild Things."

—Colleen Mondor

"Wonderfully written with contrasting points of view from the cat and Zoë, the core of the novel is the family you're born with can let you down. But the families we create can be unbreakable.. —Angela Nolet, Children’s Librarian, You Choose the Next Newbery, King County Library System, Redmond WA.

"Carmichael’s a smooth and evocative stylist, and the classic elements of the orphan story retain their appeal as Zoë begins to come to terms with her sad past in the face of her loving present."— Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

2009 Openings, Readings, Signings, Conferences & Schools (partial)

9/12, 2009, North Carolina Literary Festival,UNC-Chapel Hill, NC

Talk: Muses Are Everywhere, Q & A, and book signing

9/25, 2009, McIntyre's Fine Books, Pittsboro, NC

10/11, 2009 Southern Festival of Books, Nashville, TN

10/22, 2009, All Booked Up Book Club, Apex, NC

11/5, 2009 with Louise Hawes, Main Library, Gastonia, NC

11/6/09, American Association of School Librarians Conference, Charlotte, NC

OPEN STUDIO 2010: Nov 7-8 & 14-15, 2009

12/19/09 , West Regional Library, Cary NC, Reading and Signing

12/7-12/11 2009, Writer in Residence, Orange Charter School, Hillsborough, NC

2010 Openings, Readings, Signings, Conferences & Schools (partial)

1/29/10 Orange Charter School, Author Visit, Hillsborough, NC

2/2010 ALSC Online Class: Connecting with Tween Readers

2/12/10, Carrboro Elementary Career Day, Carrboro, NC

2/12/10 Flyleaf Books, Reading & Author Talk "Fan Mail" for All Ages @ 7 p.m .

3/11/10 St. Ann's & St. Mark's Schools, Author Visit, Charlotte, NC

4/17/10 American Association of University Women Conference,

NC Juvenile Literature Award Reception & Signing, Charlotte, NC

OPEN STUDIO 2010: Nov 6-7 & 13-14, 2010

Speaking & School Visits / Download info

NEW! Author video iChats available for tech & Mac friendly schools

Honors & Reviews for Wild Things

A Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of the Year

A 2010 ALA Notable Children's Book

NC Juvenile Literature Award

Gold Award, NAPPA

Capitol Choices 2010 Noteworthy Book

Featured Review: Fuse #8, School Library Journal & Publishers Weekly

A Chapel Hill Public Library Best Book

A Scholastic Instructor Best Kids' Book

ALAN Pick

2010 YALSA Best Books for Young Adults Nominee

2010 ALA Amelia Bloomer List Nomine e

KCPL 2010 Mock Newbery Honor

ACPL 2010 Mock Newbery Shortlist

Eva Perry Mock Newbery 'Shorter Shortlist'

Denver Public Library Mock Newbery Shortlist

Ed Spicer's Teen Must-Reads:

(video/100 Scope Notes/Spicy Reads review)

Cybils Nominee

*Starred Review* "Zoë Royster, peer to the literary heroines she so loves, is as memorable in her own way as The Great Gilly Hopkins, Opal Buloni and Anne Shirley." — Kirkus

*Highlighted Review* "Carmichael's beautifully written story is wonderful. Readers both young and old will find Zoë a likeable and touching character and will be moved by the people who try to help her. This novel is a wonderful addition to any fiction collection. —Victoria Vogel, VOYA, (Voice of Youth Advocates)

*Five stars* A phenomenal debut book...I was stunned by the depth of the characters, and how I truly connected with many of them. My favorite part was the added perspective...of the wild cat, which adds an excellent dimension... Carmichael...skillfully weaves this story and interesting characters together to create the masterpiece that is WILD THINGS.

A must-read for all readers!

—Andrew S. Cohen, TeensReadToo.com

"Zoë’s first-person narration
alternates with the observations of a feral tomcat who provides hints to the past, and an array of well-drawn eccentric characters add additional sparkle to the magic-touched story. Zoë’s fierce, funny voice is compelling, whether she is describing tense standoffs or moments of rare vulnerability that go straight to the heart."

—Booklist

"It's hard to resist the voice of 11-year-old narrator Zoë, who stars in Carmichael's swiftly-paced first novel, alongside a supporting cast of eccentric characters nearly as wild as she."

—Shelf Awareness, featured review

"[A] good book. It reminds me of Katherine Paterson's The Great Gilly Hopkins."—KaaVonia Hinton, co-author of Young Adult Literature: Exploration, Evaluation and Appreciation (Prentice Hall, 2009)